Murder suspect Tyrone Chaires with attorney Terry Kindlon during open arguments in his trial at Rensselear County Courthouse in Troy, NY Wednesday July 20,2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Murder suspect Tyrone Chaires with attorney Terry Kindlon during open arguments in his trial at Rensselear County Courthouse in Troy, NY Wednesday July 20,2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Rensselear County assistant district attorney Shane Hug presents the prosecution in the trial of murder suspect Tyrone Chaires during open arguments in his trial at Rensselear County Courthouse in Troy, NY Wednesday July 20,2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) less

Rensselear County assistant district attorney Shane Hug presents the prosecution in the trial of murder suspect Tyrone Chaires during open arguments in his trial at Rensselear County Courthouse in Troy, NY ... more

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

Image 4 of 6

Rensselear County assistant district attorney Shane Hug presents the prosecution in the trial of murder suspect Tyrone Chaires during open arguments in his trial at Rensselear County Courthouse in Troy, NY Wednesday July 20,2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) less

Rensselear County assistant district attorney Shane Hug presents the prosecution in the trial of murder suspect Tyrone Chaires during open arguments in his trial at Rensselear County Courthouse in Troy, NY ... more

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

Image 5 of 6

Attorney Terry Kindlon presents the defence for murder suspect Tyrone Chaires during open arguments in his trial at Rensselear County Courthouse in Troy, NY Wednesday July 20,2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) less

Attorney Terry Kindlon presents the defence for murder suspect Tyrone Chaires during open arguments in his trial at Rensselear County Courthouse in Troy, NY Wednesday July 20,2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times ... more

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

Image 6 of 6

Rensselear County assistant district attorney Shane Hug presents the prosecution in the trial of murder suspect Tyrone Chaires during open arguments in his trial at Rensselear County Courthouse in Troy, NY Wednesday July 20,2011.( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) less

Rensselear County assistant district attorney Shane Hug presents the prosecution in the trial of murder suspect Tyrone Chaires during open arguments in his trial at Rensselear County Courthouse in Troy, NY ... more

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

Killing called 'a gang hit'

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TROY -- The 2009 shooting death of Jimmy "Pops" Chapman on a South Troy street corner was an execution ordered by the Bloods street gang, a prosecutor told jurors Wednesday.

"This was not a random killing but an old fashioned gang hit,'' Assistant District Attorney Shane Hug told jurors at the opening of the trial of Tyrone "Nut" Chaires, 24, who is accused of second-degree murder in the killing.

"He (Chaires) just did what he was told,'' Hug said. "He coldly walked up to him, placed a gun against the back of his head and fired a shot then fired again into his body after he was down on the sidewalk.''

Hug said that Chapman had disrespected a Bloods gang member who went by the name "Chico" and Chaires, who was a low-level member of the gang, was sent to kill Chapman and supplied with a .22 caliber, pistol which was later tossed into the Connecticut River.

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Hug told jurors that members of the gang will testify against Chaires. Chaires attorney Terrence Kindlon told jurors prosecutors were lied to.

"They will have you believe that the gangster code about not snitching on other gang members was broken here but they are not snitching on the real killer they are just pinning it on my client,'' Kindlon said.

Kindlon added that prosecutors will have a list of witnesses who will be in prison shackles taking the stand, "All with powerful motives to lie.''

A bartender who was working at a nearby bar the night of the shooting told jurors he heard three quick "pops" and went to investigate.

"I saw this body down on the corner," Christopher W. Martin said. "I went over and tried to talk to him (Chapman) but I could not understand what he was saying. I called 911. I thought he might be having a seizure.''

Martin said there was no one on the street when he first went to Chapman's aid.

Chaires of 491 Second St., a nephew of Schenectady Police Chief Mark Chaires, faces charges of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for the alleged shooting death of 29-year-old Chapman on Oct. 13, 2009 on the corner of Harrison and Second streets. Chapman died the next day, police said.